December 27, 2007

Seems that the Greek Orthodox and Armenian priests turned the Nativity of Jesus into "Not a Silent Night". Turns out the each have their own section of the Nativity Shrine and when one Orthodox stepped into the Armenian section, we had a High Priest Cage Match...

Then the Palestinian police got the priests to put down their rocks and brooms...

I can just hear one of the priests..."you take one step closer to this side and I'll give you a holy swooshing the likes of which you have never seen."

Just as an FYI to the people on the AtwoodZoo Christmas Card list...we have the cards, they are sitting quite nicely on a shelf in the dining room world headquarters of Show Offs Art.

With the recent invitation that Show Offs Art received to exhibit at the America's Mart Atlanta, Vegas has put the odds that they will get mailed by Groundhogs Day as about 5-2. So as a public service, I will put our letter below... Hopefully a hard copy with the delightful pictures of the girls will hit mailboxes sometime before Easter.

12/12/2007

Dear friends,

Whew….what a year it has been.

The Chinese say that 2007 is the year of the pig. The Atwood’s will say that 2007 has the year of “hang on…” Lots of (exciting) change, great fun, amazing opportunities, and (literally) tons of sheet metal.

Here are some of the highlights:

-Jeff’s first children’s book, “Our Big, Big God” was published by Simon & Schuster. He continues to have exciting writing and consulting opportunities.

-Annette’s new business “Show Offs Art” has taken off like a rocket. (this is where the “tons” of sheet metal part comes in.) Her idea to create cool painted magnetic boards has gained an incredible following. She has a new line of canvases and the products are now in about 100 stores across the country. You can see them at www.showoffsart.com.

-Madison continues to be inspiration to all of us. And this fall, through an article published in SET (Special Education Today) her story was shared around the world.

-McKenzie had a lead part in the children’s musical at church, plays a mean goalie on the soccer field, and makes us laugh (and think) all the time.

-Macie is the 24/7 life of the party. Laughing, dancing, smiling, giggling all the way.

Here’s to a 2008 filled with more fun, more hope, and lots more sheet metal.

Sometime on Christmas Eve, or perhaps Christmas Eve-Eve...someone cut the lights in front of our house. Just scooted right up the lawn and snipped the cord right in half. Very brazen move. Especially with the fully-rehabbed Boomer the guard poodle on patrol and the fact that these lights were about 10 feet from the front door.

It was more than a bit sad to think that some knucklehead felt that "nothing says Merry Christmas like vandalizing a neighbor's yard."

"Daddy, I think I would rather hear people say 'Happy Hanukkah than 'Happy Holiday's.' Because at least when they say 'Happy Hanukkah' you know they are celebrating something real, not just 'holiday's' whatever that is...."

December 20, 2007

In complete contrast to S. O'Bannon, the knucklehead from Birmingham who wrote us a check on a closed account for a purchase and never responded to phone calls or emails about it, we also get to deal with many kind and honest and decent people.

Like D. Argo from the Nashville area. Who tracked us down to try and send us a check for $5.00 after we had inadvertently put an extra pack of Show Offs Art note cards in her bag. What a tremendously kind and honest and decent thing to do.

Another important thing I learned in running a small business is that Super Glue really, really, really sticks stuff together.

And even more important is the fact that if you glue your finger to a tube of Super Glue, you will end up ripping off about 12 layers of skin. Which really hurts.

The good news is if I ever need to go into the witness protection program, I am one step ahead of the game, because I am pretty sure I have permanently ripped off the fingerprints on three different fingers.